The Cool Justice Report exposes wrongdoing in the politically-charged worlds of cops and courts. It runs compelling stories of general interest and boxing, literary and political items, as well as selected poems and pieces of fiction. email: tntcomm82@cs.com -- Twitter@cooljustice --
A 2nd collection of columns, 'more COOL JUSTICE,' http://morecooljustice.com/ followed 'Law & Justice in Everyday Life.'

Monday, December 31, 2007

Alternative Radio's Barsamian Writes From Pakistan

The State Is Falling Apart

By DAVID BARSAMIANwww.alternativeradio.org12-31-07

1- Pakistan is showing characteristics of a state that is falling apart. The military basically is in control. The intelligence agencies exercise enormous power. The assassination was predictable. Since I arrived here on 30 November I have been telling people that Benazeer will be killed. It did not take a genius to see that. A major attempt was made on her life on 18 Oct in Karachi when over 140 people were killed. The political situation is highly unstable and has been for some time. Musharraf sacked the Supreme Court Chief Justice in March. Since then he has taken more autocratic measures supposedly to curb extremists but in fact aimed at the moderate opposition, lawyers, judges and the media.

2 - Al Qaida and the Taliban could not operate in Pakistan without at least the collusion of the military and the intelligence agencies who have long had ties with them. The Taliban is literally a creature of the latter. Much of the jihad was birthed in Islamabad and funded by Saudi Arabia through the madarsa network of Islamic seminaries. US has never acknowledged its central role in the creation of these groups. In order to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan, a Faustian bargain was struck by Washington. The chickens, as Malcolm X used to say, have come and are coming home to roost. No doubt there are jihadi elements operating inside of Pakistan. Bhutto was a hope for Washington because she was on record as saying that if she came to power she would allow the US military to enter Pakistan. Najam Sethi, the noted Pakistani journalist in Lahore, is on record as saying Benazeer was Washington's candidate. Others have intimated the same. As Musharraf has accrued more and more power and is increasingly obdurate he has become a liability for America. Another reason for the tilt toward Benazeer. Of course the US cares not an iota for Pakistan or its people. They, like Iraqis and Afghans are mere extras on the grand chessboard. Imperialism takes no prisoners and saves no lives.

3- With all her political problems and charges of corruption notwithstanding Benazeer was still an important and charismatic figure. Beyond grief there is great rage and anger at Musharraf. She was provided with no visible security protection at an open rally in the very park where Pakistan's first prime minister Liaqat Ali Khan was assassinated, hence named after him. She was also killed very near the prison where her father was hanged in 1979 by the infamous dictator and Islamist Zia ul-Haq. Elections are still scheduled for 8 Jan thou even now Nawaz Sharif has announced his party will boycott. Highly likely that Musharraf will be killed and no one will shed a tear. Prospects for more bloodshed and anarchy in Pakistan are high as the country continues its slide into darkness.

About Me

andy thibault'more COOL JUSTICE' Kindle 8-10-14...Recipient, Ct Council on FOI's
Stephen Collins Memorial Award for 'Many Contributions To The Cause Of
Open & Accountable Government & A Free & Vigorous Press In
Ct' ...Cool Justice is the column popularized by Law & Justice In
Everyday Life. Inspired by 'justice stories' in The NY Daily News &
work of writers including Breslin, Buchanan, Ellroy, Hammett, Zinn &
Chandler. Thibault, semi-retired, is a cancer survivor. Former writing
professor & mentor MFA program at Western CT State University &
also taught at NW CT Community College & U of Hartford. He works
occasionally as a private investigator Thibault delivered the 2004 Pew
Memorial Lecture In Journalism at Widener University, Chester, Pa. He
chaired a fund that awarded more than $215k, the CT Young Writers Trust.
Thibault also worked as a pro boxing judge & as a consulting editor
for the literary journal CT Review. Taught a 5-session seminar on state
& federal FOI laws for the RCNewsroomCafe. In March 2012 he began
working part-time as a contributing editor for Journal Register
publications, focusing on investigative projects & serving as a
writing coach & mentor.